A funeral service for Lloyd Aaron Bearden, age 92, of Jacksonville, is scheduled at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, June 29, 2018 at Stillwater Memorial Gardens. Rev. Dr. Edwin Crank will officiate.
Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Lloyd was born on August 21, 1925 in Corine, Texas to J.O. and Dorothy Bearden. Lloyd attended school in Corine until he was 10 years old after which the family moved to Jacksonville.
After graduating from Jacksonville… Read More » High School, Lloyd enlisted in the Navy, (World War II). Upon completion of his time in the Navy, Lloyd returned to Jacksonville where he began working at Bearden Furniture with his brother, J.D. Lloyd is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Nell (Prather) Bearden, daughter Deborah Lynn, his parents, a sister Cleta Mae Dickey, and brothers J.D. and Bob. Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Leslie and wife Terri, of Jacksonville and Frank and wife Tammy, of Henderson; daughter, Beckie Brown and husband David of Dallas; grandchildren Jennifer Brashear, Lindsey Bearden, Tara Sexton and husband T.J., Susan Whiteley and husband Jamie, all of Jacksonville, Blade and Alicia Gillispie of Henderson; great-grandchildren, Adam Brashear and Mason Brashear, Kenzie Lynn, Kaden, Kenzie Dale and Kelsey Sexton, James Jr., Alex, Lily and Aaron Whiteley, all of Jacksonville, Bailey and Tristyn Whittmore of Tyler, and Greyson Wilder Gillispie of Henderson.
Lloyd was always very active in civics. He was chosen as Chairman of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce in 1982, President of the Jacksonville Rotary Club, President for the Board of Directors for the United Fund, the Industrial Foundation among others. Lloyd was also a 32nd degree Mason, Shriner, and a Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary).
During his tenure as Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce he brought in Paul Harvey as the Keynote Speaker for the Chamber Banquet. Bo Pilgrim and Chip Moody were other celebrities he was instrumental in bringing in for occasions. Lloyd was often called upon to be either a speaker or to emcee for events.
His quick wit and ability to come up with a joke for any occasion was renowned. Whenever you saw that twinkle in his eye, you knew something was about to happen! He has served as mentor for many men and women of Jacksonville and the area.
After working at Bearden Furniture for over 80 years, (Lloyd’s first job was as a 10-year-old selling Saturday Evening Posts door to door for 1¢), he retired from the furniture business at the age of 89. Visitation will begin on Thursday, June 28, 2018 and friends are cordially invited to visit with Lloyd’s family from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville. Pallbearers are Adam Brashear, Mason Brashear, Blade Gillispie, T.J. Sexton, Danny Wilhite and Randy Sanders.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Trinity Assisted Living for the great care given to our father. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of East Texas.
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